Page 66 of Finding Love in the Clouds

As they prepared to leave several hours later, Sarah warned them, “In case no one told you, there is a Christmas Eve party at Harrington House where you are staying. The committee should have been preparing today while you were out, but tomorrow morning, we will all be there getting the final touches done, so it may be noisy starting quite early in the morning. With the time difference, it may seem like the middle of the night to you.”

“Max invited us to the party tomorrow night. Thanks for the warning; we’ll be sure to go to bed early. I’ve never stayed in historiclodgings before and was worried we wouldn’t sleep well, but Harrington House has the luxury of a five-star hotel with the charm of a Gilded Age Georgian mansion. It has been a quintessential experience, and we will not hesitate to repeat it in the future as our partnership develops,” Fernando assured.

“Oh, good. I’m so glad you’re enjoying your stay. Our friends Harper and Zach will be happy to hear the accommodations are comfortable. They have been working really hard to get the Bed and Breakfast ready for guests, and to be honest, you are the first. Nothing like a dry run with an internationally famous billionaire to evaluate your quality. If you come down for the party tomorrow, you can meet the hosts, Zach and Harper, my brother Tom, and his wife Natalie.”

Holding the door open for Sophie to exit first, Fernando added, “We’ll be there. It was good finally getting to meet you. Thank you for allowing us in your home today. I can see why you’re hesitant to leave it. It’s so peaceful.”

“We love it here in Whispering Pines, and Hickory Falls is a great small town to be a part of. You’re welcome anytime. Now that you have passed all the safety measures, we’ll be talking regularly and seeing more of each other. Soon, we’ll be great friends. I’m looking forward to all that this new partnership holds. See you tomorrow. Watch the ice on the mountain road. It can be a little more dangerous going down the mountain. It’s a good thing you grew up in New York; snow isn’t new to you. I lived in the desert then Florida before moving here a couple of years ago. I won’t even admit out loud how many times this poor man had to come to pull me out of the trees that first year. Now he takes my keys away after the first snowfall.”

They were all laughing as they parted ways, and as they headed down the mountain, Fernando released a long breath. “That startedout awkward, but in the end, I can honestly say I’m looking forward to working with her.”

“Agreed. She is a lovely woman, and that baby is just so cute! It makes me want another one. Did you see the tattoo on Eric’s forearm when he pulled up his sleeve to wash the dishes?” Sophie asked, looking out the window at the winter wonderland all around them.

“No, I missed that. What was it?”

“He was an Army Ranger. I recognized it from a group of guys Santi used to hang out with. I bet that man has survived some pretty horrific events to be that surly on the outside but tender on the inside. He clearly adored his wife, and he watched his daughter like she would disappear if he took his eyes off her.” Reaching for Fernando’s hand, she continued, “I know that getting to this point was frustrating, but I know in my heart this is going to be a good thing for us. These are the types of people we need in our lives. After that initial moment at the door when Eric couldn’t decide if he was going to let us infiltrate the security of his home, I felt completely safe. I’m looking forward to meeting her brother Tom tomorrow.”

Chapter Sixty-Seven

They left Harrington House early the next morning to avoid being underfoot during the final preparations for the Christmas Eve party. Her parents opted to stay back, cozy by the fireplace in their room, claiming their bones were accustomed to more tropical weather. They had gotten their fill of snow while playing with Javier the day before.

Fernando, Sophie, and Javier toured the small town of Hickory Falls, marveling at the elegant detailing on the historical buildings and the charming window displays in the shops lining the main street and town square. Even the vacant storefronts, locked up tight, had beautiful displays that drew in passersby while concealing the empty spaces beyond.

Antique gas lamps, retrofitted with flickering light bulbs, lined the cobblestone road, adorned with green garlands and red bows. Christmas lights twinkled from the trees and draped across the street, with large ornaments dangling from the supporting cables. In the center ofthe small town stood an enormous Christmas tree, proudly decorated with antique replica ornaments, adding to the festive charm.

“I love how this town is embracing its historical heritage instead of tearing it down and building new,” Sophie commented. “It reminds me of our trip to Italy, how they incorporated the old into the new.”

“You can definitely feel the love the townspeople have for their home. By the looks of things, it’s struggling, but the ones who are holding on for better days are doing their best to make it a wonderful place to be. Harrington House is so well preserved it feels like staying in a museum. In a good way,” Fernando added thoughtfully.

A short distance away, there was ice skating on a pond, and an elderly gentleman was lending out skates that he had picked up at garage sales and thrift stores from a large utility cart. She initially balked at the thought of any of them putting their feet in used shoes, but Fernando laughed and told her to live a little, so they put them on and made fools of themselves as Fernando tried to teach them how it was done. Javier was a gifted athlete, and soon, he was racing around the pond and making new friends. Sophie, on the other hand, struggled.

He pulled, pushed, and, at one point, practically carried her, trying to help her stay on her feet and move at the same time. Falling on her rear end for at least the two dozenth time, she lay on the ice staring up at the heavy gray sky.

Javier skated over to her and knelt by her side, “Mom, are you okay?” he asked, ever vigilant of her well-being.

Cupping his cheek with her gloved hand, she said, “I’m fine, darling, just taking a break. I can’t seem to stay on my feet.”

“You look like Bambi and Daddy’s Thumper. Maybe you should stop before you wind up crashing into the snow like they did.” Warning delivered, he placed a cool, wet kiss on her cheek and raced off to be with the children waiting nearby.

Pondering what he had said, Sophie broke into uncontrollable laughter.

Fernando stood over her, watching as she laughed so hard that tears dripped from the corners of her eyes. “Sophie, what’s so funny?” he asked, hands on his hips.

Trying to catch her breath but failing miserably as the laughter continued to bubble up from her belly, she asked, “Fernando, did you ever see the movie, ‘Bambi’?”

“I think so when I was a kid. Why?” he asked, confusion wrinkling his brow.

“There’s a scene where the little rabbit Thumper is trying to teach Bambi the deer how to skate, but no matter how he pushed and pulled, Bambi kept falling, usually on top of little Thumper. It’s a funny scene, but Javier just said that it was me and you, so I was picturing what a show we must have just put on for all these people. Anyway, I think Javi is right, and I should quit before one of us gets hurt. Do you want to hang out here with him or come get hot chocolate with me?” Sophie asked, raising her hands so Fernando could help her stand one last time.

Fernando held her in his arms, gazing deeply into her eyes. “Sophie, did I hear things correctly a moment ago? Did Javier just call me Daddy?”

A soft smile curved her lips. “Yes, you did. He’s been calling you that at home ever since you asked him if he was okay with us getting married and being a family. I told him it was a secret until the wedding. I know in your heart you already think of him as your son, so I didn’t see any harm in it as long as we were in private. He has done really well until today. He’s counting down the days until we marry, by the way.”

“I’m totally fine with it. He can call me Dad now if he wants. I don’t care if the world knows. If you don’t mind, I’ll hang out with my son on the ice a little longer before we head in for lunch.”

“I don’t mind at all as long as you help me get off this pond first.”

Fernando placed a quick peck on her lips and then, without warning, lifted her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He skated to the edge of the pond and deposited her on the frozen ground in front of the old man.

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